Golden State Warriors-Memphis Grizzlies rivalry: A timeline

Devyy Post March 18, 2023

The Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies carry out most possible the solely, or typically the worst, in every fully different.

it is a rivalry that is typically one-sided however nonetheless strong in starpower with Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, Klay Thompson, Draymond inexperienced and Dillon Brooks going head-to-head. The chirping on and off the court docket has helped make it one among many chippiest rivalries inside the NBA.

The unhealthy blood has supplied fodder for some thrilling basketball video games, however how did we get right here? The rift between these two squads has spanned 4 seasons — and all of it begins with Andre Iguodala.

The rookies vs. the vet

In July 2019, Memphis acquired Iguodala in a commerce with Golden State. the troopers needed to clear cap space for an indication-and-commerce for D’Angelo Russell after Kevin Durant headed to the Brooklyn Nets.

nonetheless the 2015 NBA Finals MVP by no means reported to teaching camp or expressed curiosity in suiting up for Memphis. “it has been a blessing in disguise … i really feel it is added some years to my profession,” Iguodala mentioned of sitting out on “First Take” in January 2020.

the following month, Memphis agreed to a deal with the Miami warmth that despatched Iggy to South seashore. however earlier than that, Grizzlies gamers expressed their displeasure with Iguodala’s short-term tenure as their teammate.

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zero:28

had been Brooks’ suggestions about Iguodala out of line?

Jay Williams reacts to Dillon Brooks’ suggestions that he can not await the Grizzlies to commerce Andre Iguodala.

“First time I seen him was on tv talking about us,” Brooks mentioned. “It would not even matter. Andre Iguodala is an environment nice participant. I really feel like he is doing the becoming factor for his profession, however we do not actually care. it is not a distraction in any respect. I snigger at that style of stuff. a man that is on our workforce that would not ought to be on our workforce, i can not wait ’til we uncover a approach to commerce him so we’re ready to play him and current him what actually Memphis is about.”

destiny of the eight-seed

As luck would have it, the Grizzlies and Warriors confronted off for the eight-seed inside the common-season finale.

Golden State led fifty five-forty nine at halftime, then Stephen Curry & Co. exploded inside the third quarter and prolonged their lead to 86-sixty nine. Brooks started the fourth quarter on an eight-level run that closed the hole to 86-seventy seven. He stayed scorching inside the final physique and transformed a recreation-tying three-level play with 6:32 remaining. Shortly thereafter, inexperienced drew Brooks’ sixth foul, which despatched him to the bench for the final 6:12.

the troopers went on to win 113-one hundred and one, however as a end result of of the NBA’s introduction of its play-in match, it did not take prolonged for these teams to meet as quickly as extra.

5 days later, the rematch went to overtime.

Memphis had a ten-level benefit with three:36 remaining, however clutch free throw capturing from Jordan Poole and Curry mixed with well timed layups by inexperienced and Andrew Wiggins despatched the sport to extra minutes.

The Grizzlies earned the No. eight seed with the 117-112 win and ended a three-yr playoff drought.

energy in numbers

After he spent the larger an component of two seasons as a bystander inside the rivalry, issues obtained here full circle with Iggy’s return to Golden State for the 2021-22 season.

The Grizzlies went three-1 inside the two teams’ common-season matchups, and Jaren Jackson Jr. stirred the pot by tweeting the troopers’ rally phrase after defeating them 123-ninety five in a recreation by which Curry, Thompson and inexperienced did not play.

the meat truly rose to prominence when the two teams met inside the convention semifinals. recreation 1 lived as a lot as a end result of the hype, however inexperienced participated in solely half of it as a end result of of a second-quarter ejection. Thompson cashed in on a three-pointer with 36 seconds remaining that gave the troopers a one-level edge. Morant missed a final-second layup which will’ve been ample to hold away from the 117-116 loss for Memphis.

Broke the code

recreation 2 was one other important episode on this tumultuous relationship. Brooks was ejected inside the sport’s opening minutes after hanging Gary Payton II, who broke his left elbow inside the incident.

The Golden State sideline, collectively with head coach Steve Kerr, seen it as a unclean play.

“Dillon Brooks broke the code,” Kerr mentioned. “that is how I see it.”

Whoop that trick

the troopers entered recreation 5 up three-1, desirous to finish the Grizzlies’ playoff run.

forward of the potential sequence nearer, Curry gave ESPN’s Kendra Andrews some perception on Golden State’s mentality, saying:

“Whoop that trick! that is our recreation plan.”

“Whoop That Trick” is a music by Memphis-born rapper Al Kapone — and it served as a end result of the Grizzlies’ unofficial anthem that performed in FedExForum all by way of late-recreation moments inside the sequence.

The Grizzlies responded by placing up a 134-ninety five thrashing to hold away from elimination.

Steph and Draymond nonetheless appeared to be taught from the second the music performed, regardless of the large deficit.

the troopers gained recreation 6 a hundred and ten-ninety six to advance to the convention finals, and Memphis was already anticipating their subsequent meeting.

“They know that we’ll come each yr,” Brooks mentioned. “We’re youthful, they’re getting previous, so as that they know we’re coming each yr.”

energy in numbers, II

Golden State went on to win the NBA Finals, however even on the league’s brightest stage, the Grizzlies nonetheless obtained here to thoughts.

“energy in numbers is alive and properly,” Thompson mentioned after worthwhile the championship. “There was this one participant on the Grizzlies [Jaren Jackson Jr.] who tweeted ‘energy in numbers’ after they beat us inside the common season, and it pissed me off so a lot. i can not wait to retweet that factor. Freakin’ bum. I needed to look at that. i am like, ‘This freakin’ clown.’ Sorry, that reminiscence simply popped up. Going to mock us? You ain’t ever been there earlier than. we have been there earlier than, all of us know what it takes. So to be right here as quickly as extra, maintain that.”

Morant did not take the slight at his teammate frivolously, and it did not take prolonged for inexperienced to chime in.

Two months later, they continued their offseason Twitter interactions by expressing their delight that the two teams had been scheduled to face off as an component of the NBA’s Christmas Day slate.

superb inside the West

Memphis jumped out to a 19-eleven report, tied for biggest inside the convention. Morant memorably declared that he was “superb inside the West” and named the Boston Celtics as a end result of the Grizzlies’ solely rivals.

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4:35

Why the biggest method forward for the NBA is in good palms

Malika Andrews sits down with Ja Morant, Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell to focus on their impression on the sport of basketball and what it means to be the following period of stars.

It proved to be fruitful bulletin board supplies for Golden State, which gained the Christmas Day recreation 123-109. although this matchup wasn’t a nailbiter, the historic previous between the teams was apparent as seven technical fouls had been assessed — with the troopers accounting for six of them.

Their Jan. 26 meeting supplied extra drama with the troopers’ comeback being capped by Poole’s final-second recreation-worthwhile layup.

the sensation is mutual

issues heated again up after Brooks candidly shared his disdain for Golden State with ESPN’s Tim Keown.

“i do not like Draymond in any respect,” Brooks mentioned. “I simply do not like Golden State. i do not like something to do with them. Draymond talks so a lot. will get away with so a lot, too. His recreation is cool — with Golden State — however for people who put him anyplace else, you are not going to know who Draymond is. He performs with coronary heart, performs exhausting, is aware of the ins and outs of their protection. i assume that is why they like him over there.”

This prompted a response from inexperienced on his podcast, “The Draymond inexperienced current.”

Brooks and the Grizzlies obtained the final phrase (figuratively) after their dominant 131-a hundred and ten victory on March 9, their first win in direction of the troopers this season.

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zero:33

Brooks trolls Draymond in postgame interview

Dillon Brooks responds to Draymond inexperienced after the Grizzlies win over the troopers.

regardless of the historic previous, inexperienced nonetheless says he wouldn’t name Memphis a rival.

“Rivalries are created by you win, I win. Clearly, we have gained 4 occasions, and their group has zero championships, so i can not take into account that a rivalry,” inexperienced mentioned after the sport.

Semantics aside, he can not deny that the connection is no decrease than entertaining.



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